Hardy Garden Mums for Autumn Arrangements
Chrysanthemum Flowers are Fall Blooming Perennials
Sep 28, 2009
Chrysanthemum plants are traditional fall blooming perennials used in garden arrangements during autumn. Hardy garden mums can be planted anytime during the growing season but bloom in late summer and fall seasons.
The dark green foliage creates a mound shaped plant. From late summer until a hard frost, solid jewel colored flowers blanket the dense plant. The leaves are lobed and fragrant with fuzzy undersides covered with tiny hairs making it appear grayish green.
Chrysanthemums are low maintenance perennials that grow in full sun. The plants are useful in cutting gardens, to attract butterflies and as a seasonal houseplant.
Flowering Chrysanthemum Plant Ideas
There are many flowering Chrysanthemum plant ideas found at local farmers markets or garden nurseries. Although the pompom variety and jewel colored flowers of Chrysanthemum are popular, other garden mum types are worth considering:
- C. ‘Nipponicum’ is a 36” tall plant with 3” diameter white daisy shaped flowers that start blooming in late summer.
- C. ‘Sheffield Pink’ is called an heirloom cottage plant. It has a salmon pink color.
- Chrysanthemum carinatum ‘Tricolor Daisy’ also is an heirloom mum. Also called a painted daisy, the two-toned daisy-like flower grows 2’ tall.
- Chrysanthemum x morifolii ‘Wanda’ has the traditional pompom flower blooming in a lavender color. The plant grows 24” tall.
Gardeners who want to protect garden mums over winter will follow some fall plant care tips. Mums are not reliably hardy north of zone 5, although they will tolerate frosts.
Planting beds with Chyrsanthemums should have well-amended soil that will retain moisture before drying out. The plants are called heavy feeders because they need fertilizer early in the growing season to have excellent flowering.
Gardeners will cut back mum plants in late May through early June. The mum’s stems are later left with branching that will support a snow cover; this additionally protects plants during winter. Some plant growers use cold frames to over winter Chrysanthemums that protects them from freezing temperatures.
Autumn Aster Flowers with Mums
Chrysanthemums, Asters and Solidago are familiar fall flowering plants. An outdoor autumn arrangement of these plants makes an easy idea for the late season garden.
Aster and Solidago, more easily known as goldenrod, are hardy native plants that work well in a wildflower garden, as well. All of these garden plants attract pollinators to any type of garden.
Chrysanthemums are those hardy colorful flowering plants many see in fall gardens. Hardy garden mums make excellent plants for autumn arrangements. Gardeners use this time of year to plant flowering bulbs while working in the garden, too.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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